According to abbreviationfinder, Port Moresby is the capital of Papua New Guinea, and is located in the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, dominated by mountains and with a bay that overlooks the sea. It is a city in which you can perceive the mixture of cultures and modern buildings of the European colonizers.
The best views of Port Moresby can be seen through the Paga Hill Lookout, from which you can see important buildings such as the Pacific Place, the ANG House and the Travelodge, as well as the Central Bank of Papua New Guinea building. Notable buildings include Parliament, the National Museum and Art Gallery, and the Ela United Church on Douglas Street. The first European settlement, the Metoreai, today belongs to the Ela United Church. Among its best beaches, Ela Beach stands out, next to which is the Catholic Cathedral of Santa María.
Two emblematic places are the campuses of the University of Papua New Guinea and the National School of Art.
History
The first European to arrive in the area where the city of Port Moresby is located, was the British captain John Moresby, in 1873, hence the name of the city. Ten years later the British had already founded a city there.
The small capital of Papua New Guinea gained vital importance in history during World War II as the Allies used it as one of their most prominent military bases. Port Moresby is considered one of the most dangerous cities in the world, according to a report presented by the UN program for Human Settlements.
Geography
Location
Port Moresby is the capital of Papua-New Guinea, a country located in the north of Australia. The city is located in the southwestern part of the extreme south of the island of New Guinea. Its coastline faces the Gulf of Papua and in front of it lies an impressive sea of coral. The entire southern tip of the island is traversed by the Owen Stanley Range.
Climate
The climate is fully tropical and very humid throughout the year. Monsoons from the northwest or southwest are always present. The variation in temperatures throughout the year is almost nil.
The rains are very constant and high on the coast, where Port Moresby is located. Inside they are shrinking. The average maximum temperature is 33º and the average minimum, 22º.
Geographical accidents
- Ilder beach, located in the bay that bears his name in the heart of the Coral Sea.
- Rouna Falls.
- The coral reefs.
- Owen Stanley Range
Population
Its population exceeds 200,000 residents. Most of them are Melanesians and a small minority belongs to the Polynesian ethnic group. There are also small Chinese colonies. See population of Papua New Guinea.
Life expectancy for men is 61 years and 65 for women. The city was estimated in 2004 as the worst place in the world to live from the list of 130 world capitals by the Economist Intelligence Unit. The large number of rapes, robberies and murders, and the many areas of the city taken over by criminal gangs, known internally as raskols were mentioned in the report. According to an article published by The Guardian newspaper in 2004, unemployment levels were estimated to be between 60 and 90%, and murder rates were three times higher than those in Moscow and 23 times those in London.
Religion
Regarding religion, there is great diversity, although at the head are Catholics and Protestants.
Economy
The city is surrounded by plantations and cow farms. Its main exports are coffee, rubber, wood and gold. Sawmill, beer and tobacco factories, and handicrafts are the main industries. Fishing also occupies an important place in the economy of the city.
Sightseeing
The thunderous Rouna Falls are one of the most visited sites by tourists along with the Varirata National Park.
The House of the National Parliament is often an architectural attraction for visitors. For the more adventurous, they can enter to contemplate the impressive coral reefs that are hidden off the coast of the capital.
Art and culture
Architecture
The House of the National Parliament, combines modern architecture with classic designs.
Crafts
The typical products of Port Moresby are bilums, a kind of bag made of rope, and ritual masks, made of carved wood and ebony ornaments.
Local musical instruments that resemble drums and flutes, basketry and weavings with natural dyes are very common to find in the markets and small shops of the capital.
Holidays and traditions
The most outstanding parties are:
- On June 13, the birthday of the Queen.
- On July 21, the Day of Remembrance.
- On September 16, Independence Day.
Festivals are very common and in them all the folklore and tradition of the area come to light. In the capital they are held in mid-June.
Education
Most of the rural population is illiterate, especially women. The capital’s schools have traditionally been run by the church where private schools and public schools coexist.
In 1965 it established the University of Papua New Guinea and joined the group of Commonwealth Universities, educational institution is the highest category in Papua New Guinea and is the first in Oceania. It is located on the northern outskirts of the city. Currently, there are around 15,000 students enrolled in the institution, with 13 faculties and institutes.
Port Moresby in you can usually find a hospital ship of the fleet of the Pacific of the US, which allows for greater education and training for local doctors and nurses with modern technology.
In the city there are also other national and international research institutions, such as the National Research Institute of Papua New Guinea founded in 1961 as a branch of the Australian National University, which is responsible for working and researching in the direction of economic development, political and social of the country.
Transport
The Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby provides its services, where the national airline of Papua New Guinea Air Niugini operates, in addition to other companies such as Qantas. The airport has international flights to Brisbane, Cairns, Honiara, Manila, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo. As the whole country is not connected by highways, there are many domestic flights that connect Port Moresby with other towns in the country that are not accessible by bus.
